Sell Homemade Food in Virginia — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Virginia — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
New here? RestauNax helps people just like you turn home baking into a real online business — for $4.99/month.
No general cap; $9,000/year cap applies to acidified foods only
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
very business-friendly
Regulation Level
Virginia is considered very business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Virginia is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) explains everything you need to know about the Virginia Home Food Processing Exemption (Code of Virginia § 3.2-5130).
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Virginia requires below.
Open your online store with RestauNax
Take orders, accept payments, manage shipping, and message customers — all from one dashboard for $4.99/month.
Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery
Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Virginia
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
dried herbs
acidified foods (capped)
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned low-acid foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) before you start, just to be safe.
Virginia Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Virginia under the Virginia Home Food Processing Exemption (Code of Virginia § 3.2-5130)
No Permit Needed
Virginia does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
Virginia does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Virginia allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what Virginia wants on it — copy this list.
Producer's name, physical address, and telephone number on the principal display panel
Product name (common or usual)
Net weight statement
Ingredients and sub-ingredients listed in descending order of predominance by weight
Allergen disclosure (federal Big-9)
If too small to label, a sign at point of sale is acceptable
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Virginia requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From Virginia
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Virginia. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
dried herbs
Ship within Virginia only
Virginia permits direct sales to consumers in-state, including online orders for in-state delivery. The exemption does not authorize interstate shipping; that would require federal compliance.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
Integrated with major carriers for reliable delivery
FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in Virginia
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Virginia
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Virginia
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Virginia
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Virginia cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Virginia
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Home Food Business Types in Virginia
Start any of these home food businesses under the Virginia Home Food Processing Exemption (Code of Virginia § 3.2-5130)
Start Your Virginia Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Virginia Home Food Processing Exemption (Code of Virginia § 3.2-5130) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Virginia? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.